How to Avoid Overpacking

Road Warrior provides travel tips from those who know best: busy executives and other globetrotters. See previous columns

Scott Burnett is the managing director for consulting firm Towers Watson’s Southeast Asia division and head of the company’s account management in Asia Pacific.

The Singapore-based U.K. native speaks about traveling with kids, San Francisco’s yoga scene and how to avoid overpacking.

How often are you up in the air?

About once a week, with a mix of Asean-only travels and trips further afield in Asia Pacific.

Favorite hotel?

Any Shangri-La. My favorite is the Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Borneo.

Favorite restaurant/bar?

Fearing’s, at The Ritz-Carlton in Dallas. It holds many special memories for my wife and me.

Preferred airline?

Singapore Airlines. Overall, it is an exceptional airline, I like the fact that it’s almost always on time, and it has wide variety of special meal options—a big plus for me—and quality service.

Best airline seats?

Aisle seats in the economy class of any A330 or A380 aircraft. In particular, I like rows 31, 44 and 48; row 31 provides convenient entry and exit options, while seats in row 44 and 48 have more legroom. If I am flying business class, I like the 777-300ER for the flat bed and the single seats along the aisle.

Frequent-flier program?

[Singapore Airlines’] KrisFlyer. However, Cathay’s Marco Polo program is good as well. They allow upgrades and it is a more generous program.

Favorite airport?

Singapore’s Changi Airport. The customs process is efficient. There is hardly a queue.

Which city has the best taxis?

Singapore’s taxis are clean, affordable, and convenient.

Which travel apps do you use?

XE Currency for exchange rates and Airport Zoom for flight info. I try to contribute reviews to TripAdvisor when my schedule allows it, but it can be time-consuming.

How do you stay fit while traveling?

I practice yoga, so it’s fairly easy to practice in my hotel room, night or day.

Most memorable travel experience?

The trip to Cambodia I took with my family. It was a great combination of history, culture and beautiful welcoming people. I especially enjoyed watching my kids interact with other kids their own age but from completely different backgrounds.

San Francisco. It’s a city where many worlds seem to collide. It is a combination of tumultuous history and an eclectic architectural mix of modern and Victorian, not to mention the city’s West Coast ‘trippy’ vibe, where you will find a juice bar or yoga studio on every corner.

What’s left on the bucket list?

Tokyo and India. Though I’ve been to Tokyo many times, my family wants to visit. As for India, I’ll be heading over later this year for the very first time. India is an ancient civilization and I would love to experience their culture. It is also home to some of the world’s best vegetarian cuisine. Being a vegetarian, I would love to try some of their delicacies.

Preferred luggage?

I use a featherweight Samsonite carry-on. I love it as there are loads of pockets and you can easily pack enough for seven days.

Packing strategies?

For longer trips where you need multiple trousers and jackets, I pack each trouser or jacket separately, and wrap them in a dry-cleaning plastic cover. They pack well and don’t crease. Trousers should be placed at the bottom of the case, everything else in the middle with jackets on top.

What’s your best travel advice?

Travel light. I usually pack once, then challenge myself to repack. I don’t pack directly into the carry-on as you risk filling it up. I lay out what I need for the week, then pack. It results in packing very light and helps avoid having to check in any bags. This way I can grab a taxi immediately without having to wait for my luggage to arrive and have a more productive start to my day.